Six people have died and three others are missing after a boat accident in Sokoto State on Friday. The Nigerian Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the casualties in a statement released on Sunday.
The accident occurred in Garin-faji, Sabon-birni Local Government Area. A total of 30 people were on board the boat when the mishap happened. Twenty-one people survived the accident, including two canoe operators who were rescued from the water.
Search and rescue teams recovered six bodies from the river. The bodies have been buried according to Islamic rites. Three people remain missing and search operations are continuing to find them.
NEMA’s Sokoto Operation Office said it is closely monitoring the search and rescue efforts and will provide updates as the situation develops. The agency has called on regulatory authorities to enforce better safety measures on waterways.
Officials want authorities to ensure that safety protocols are followed when canoes and boats are used for transportation and commercial activities. They particularly emphasised the importance of life jackets for both crew members and passengers.
The accident highlights ongoing safety concerns about water transportation in northern Nigeria, where many communities rely on boats to cross rivers and waterways during the rainy season when roads may become impassable.
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